FAQ’s for the National Autistic Society’s Now I Know Campaign
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Yes, we established a steering group from the beginning of the project who helped shape the campaign in numerous ways. Their input has been hugely valued from the beginning with the core creative line coming from an autistic woman and a member of the steering group featuring in the campaign. Autistic staff members have been a part of our core team working on the project ensuring alignment.
The campaign photographer Alex Heron, who was mentored by Rankin, is also an autistic woman. Her thoughts and ideas also inspired and shaped the campaign. From the start, this campaign has put autistic women and non-binary people at the centre, letting them lead the way and shape the campaign into something where their stories and who they are is at the core.
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Yes, we had a steering group made up of autistic women to shape the campaign objectives and the creative direction. Their feedback was taken into consideration at all key stages up until launch.
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Yes, they are all autistic and will be paid for their time. The autistic people steering group were also offered payment for their time.
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We would love you to share your story on social media by tagging us and using the hashtag #NowIKnow
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Raising awareness of the impact that late diagnosis has had on autistic people’s lives. We know that spending much of their lives undiagnosed is a challenge for autistic people, in particular both women and non-binary people.
The campaign also aims to provide these people with access to more information on autism, as well as communities of support for them via our online community, membership and online branches. Through both women and non-binary people sharing their stories of autism we hope that more people become aware of autism to hopefully over time reduce the number of people struggling undiagnosed.
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Whilst we know that autistic people of all ages continue to experience a lack of understanding and can be subjected to long battles for support and the right diagnosis, we have chosen to focus this campaign on the experiences of both women and non-binary people who have experienced a whole lifetime of being misunderstood and in many cases, mistreated.
The impact of this lack of understanding of autism in both women and non-binary people is evident through the stories the people in our campaign have shared. We felt it important that others can learn from their experiences including the generations of autistic women, girls and non-binary people who have been more recently diagnosed. You can join our supportive online community and read our information on women and autism on our website.
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Many autistic people feel misunderstood and face huge health inequalities. Autistic women and girls often face additional barriers, with many living having to live their whole lives without an autism diagnosis, an understanding of who they are and vital support. This is an issue shared with non-binary people.
Gender should never be a barrier to getting a diagnosis and the right support. But we still need better understanding of the often different experiences of autistic people and how support can be adapted, particularly among schools, GPs and clinicians carrying out autism assessments.
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If you would like, you can join the conversation on our social media channels. We are posting using the hashtag #NowIKnow on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Alternatively you can email your story to our team: womens.campaign@nas.org.uk
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We were very grateful to receive probono support from Ogilvy Health in the creative development of this campaign, as well as discounted support from the photographer Rankin and his fantastic team. We extend our particularly gratitude to Alex Heron, our campaign photographer, for her dedication to the campaign and the beautiful images she took, as well as for featuring in the campaign herself.
Thank you to all members of our campaign steering group for your time, energy and critical eye on the campaign.
And most of all, thank you to all the amazing people who shared their stories as part of the campaign – to those who starred in our photoshoots, and shared their stories on social media – the campaign is for you and we’re grateful for your support.